System and method for identifying a contact associated with an electronic communication

ABSTRACT

A method is provided on an electronic communications device having a subscriber identifier, the method for identifying a contact entry associated with an electronic communication specified by a communication identifier. The method comprises searching an address book associated with the device; in response to finding a first and a second contact entry each having a respective first contact communication identifier matching the communication identifier, comparing a second contact communication identifier with the subscriber identifier; and identifying the second contact entry associated with the electronic communication if the second contact communication identifier in the first contact entry matches the subscriber identifier.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/713,200 filed Feb. 26, 2010, which is owned in commonherewith.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to electronic communications,and more particularly to a system and method for identifying a contactassociated with an electronic communication.

BACKGROUND

Electronic communications devices, hereinafter referred to as“communications devices”, such as cellular phones, personal digitalassistants, or laptop computers are increasingly becoming popular.

Conventionally, when an incoming electronic communication, hereinafterreferred to as “incoming communication”, such as phone call, or ane-mail message arrives at a communications device, it is often desirableto identify, to the subscriber of the device, the initiator of suchincoming communication. Similarly, when an outgoing electroniccommunication, hereinafter referred to as “outgoing communication”, isinitiated at a communications device, it is often desirable to identifythe recipient of the outgoing communication.

A situation can arise when two possibilities exist for an initiator or arecipient of a communication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the drawings, which show by way ofexample, implementations of the present disclosure, in which likereference numerals refer to like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary communications device;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary electronic address book havinga plurality of contact entries, operable on the communications device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed illustration of an exemplary contact entrycontaining contact information corresponding to the subscriber of thecommunications device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detailed illustration of an exemplary contact entrycontaining contact information corresponding to the spouse of thesubscriber of the communications device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is an illustration of an exemplary phone application screendisplayable on the communications device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5B is an illustration of an exemplary Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) information screen displayable on the communications device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary service book screen showingthe various communications services supported by the communicationsdevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a personal identification number (PIN)information screen displayable on the communications device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a high-level flow chart of a method for identifying a contactentry associated with an incoming communication;

FIG. 9 is a high-level flow chart of a method for identifying a contactentry associated with an outgoing communication;

FIG. 10 is a detailed flow chart of a method for identifying a contactentry associated with a communication in accordance with animplementation of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of an incoming phone call from the home phoneof the subscriber of the communications device of FIG. 1 to thecommunications device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an exemplary caller identification screenthat is displayed when the incoming phone call of FIG. 11 arrives at thecommunications device of FIG. 1, in accordance with an implementation ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an outgoing phone call from thecommunications device of FIG. 1, to the communications devicesubscriber's home phone number;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of the subscriber's home phone number beingdialed using the exemplary phone application screen of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of an exemplary call recipient identificationscreen that is displayed at the communications device of FIG. 1 when theoutgoing call of FIG. 13 is placed from the communications device, inaccordance with an implementation of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of an incoming e-mail message from an e-mailaddress shared between the communications device's subscriber whosecontact entry is in FIG. 3 and the communications device subscriber'sspouse whose contact entry is in FIG. 4, the message arriving at thecommunications device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail message list screenthat can be displayed when the e-mail message of FIG. 16 arrives at thecommunications device of FIG. 1, in accordance with yet anotherimplementation of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail message preview screenthat can be displayed when the e-mail message of FIG. 16 is opened forpreview at the communications device of FIG. 1, in accordance with animplementation of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of an exemplary outgoing e-mail messageoriginating from the communications device of FIG. 1 to an e-mailaddress shared between the communications device's subscriber whosecontact entry is in FIG. 3 and the communications device subscriber'sspouse whose contact entry is in FIG. 4;

FIG. 20 is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail application menuincluding an e-mail compose menu item, the menu displayable on thecommunications device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 21 is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail compose screen on thecommunications device of FIG. 1 wherein an e-mail address shared betweenthe communications device subscriber and the communications devicesubscriber's spouse, is entered as the destination of an e-mail messagebeing composed at the communications device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 22 is an illustration of the e-mail compose screen of FIG. 21wherein the e-mail address entered has been replaced with thecorresponding contact name, in accordance with an implementation of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustration of the components of thecommunications device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method forexecution at a communications device, the method comprising: searchingan address book for a first contact entry and a second contact entry,the address book having a plurality of contact entries, each contactentry storing a contact identity identifier and at least two contactcommunication identifiers, each of the first and second contact entrieshaving a respective first contact communication identifier matching apredetermined communication identifier associated with an electroniccommunication; in response to finding the first and second contactentries, comparing a second contact communication identifier in each ofthe first and second contact entries with a subscriber identifierassociated with the communications device; and identifying the secondcontact entry as the contact entry associated with the electroniccommunication in response to a match of the second contact communicationidentifier in the first contact entry to the subscriber identifier.

In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a computerprogram product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable mediumstoring computer-readable instructions which, when executed, direct acommunications device to search an address book for a first contactentry and a second contact entry, the address book having a plurality ofcontact entries, each contact entry storing a contact identityidentifier and at least two contact communication identifiers, each ofthe first and second contact entries having a respective first contactcommunication identifier matching a predetermined communicationidentifier associated with an electronic communication; in response tofinding the first and second contact entries, compare a second contactcommunication identifier in each of the first and second contact entrieswith the subscriber identifier; and identify the second contact entry asthe contact entry associated with the electronic communication inresponse to a match of the second contact communication identifier inthe first contact entry to the subscriber identifier.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided anelectronic communications device an electronic communications device,comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor, forstoring at least one address book having a plurality of contact entries,each contact entry storing a contact identity identifier and at leasttwo contact communication identifiers; and computer-readableinstructions, stored in the memory and executable on the processor, foran identification software module, the identification module operablefor: searching the address book for a first contact entry and a secondcontact entry, each of the first and second contact entries having arespective first contact communication identifier matching apredetermined communication identifier associated with an electroniccommunication; in response to finding the first and second contactentries, comparing a second contact communication identifier in each ofthe first and second contact entries with a subscriber identifierassociated with the electronic communications device; and identifyingthe second contact entry as the contact entry associated with theelectronic communication in response to a match of the second contactcommunication identifier in the first contact entry to the subscriberidentifier.

In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a methodfor identifying a contact entry associated with an electroniccommunication. The method comprises: searching an address book for firstand second contact entries, the address book having at least two contactentries, each contact entry storing a contact name identifier and one ormore contact communication identifiers, each of the first and secondcontact entries having a contact communication identifier matching acommunication identifier associated with an electronic communication andat least one of the first and second contact entries having at least twocontact communication identifiers. In response to finding the first andsecond contact entries, comparing an additional contact communicationidentifier in one or both of the first and second contact entries with asubscriber identifier associated with a communications device. Inresponse to a match of the additional contact communication identifierin one of the first and second contact entries to the subscriberidentifier, identifying the non-matching contact entry as the contactentry associated with the electronic communication and announcing thecontact entry associated with the electronic communication.

In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a computerprogram product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable mediumstoring computer-readable instructions which, when executed, direct acommunications device to: search an address book for first and secondcontact entries, the address book having at least two contact entries,each contact entry storing a contact name identifier and one or morecontact communication identifiers, each of the first and second contactentries having a contact communication identifier matching acommunication identifier associated with an electronic communication andat least one of the first and second contact entries having at least twocontact communication identifiers. In response to finding the first andsecond contact entries, compare an additional contact communicationidentifier in one or both of the first and second contact entries with asubscriber identifier associated with the communications device. Inresponse to a match of the additional contact communication identifierin one of the first and second contact entries to the subscriberidentifier, identify the non-matching contact entry as the contact entryassociated with the electronic communication and announce the contactentry associated with the electronic communication.

In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided anelectronic communications device, comprising: a processor; a memoryconnected to the processor; and computer-readable instructions, storedin the memory and executable on the processor, for an identificationsoftware module. The identification module is operable for searching anaddress book for first and second contact entries, the address bookhaving at least two contact entries, each contact entry storing acontact name identifier and one or more contact communicationidentifiers, each of the first and second contact entries having acontact communication identifier matching a communication identifierassociated with an electronic communication and at least one of thefirst and second contact entries having at least two contactcommunication identifiers; in response to finding the first and secondcontact entries, comparing an additional contact communicationidentifier in one or both of the first and second contact entries with asubscriber identifier associated with the electronic communicationsdevice; in response to a match of the additional contact communicationidentifier in one of the first and second contact entries to thesubscriber identifier, identifying the non-matching contact entry as thecontact entry associated with the electronic communication; andannouncing the contact entry associated with the electroniccommunication.

Communications devices, such as cellular phones, personal digitalassistants, or laptop computers are increasingly becoming popular.Communications devices are typically capable of initiating and receivingvoice calls, as well as sending and receiving electronic messages suchas e-mail, short messaging service (SMS), instant messaging, and thelike. As an example, FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplarycommunications device 100. Communications device 100 has a screen 110for displaying information, a keypad 120 for entering information suchas composing e-mail messages, and a pointing device 130 such as atrackball for navigating through items on screen 110. Device 100 canalso have a button 140 for initiating a phone application (not shown),and a button 150 for terminating phone calls.

A communications device typically has an electronic address bookassociated with it. The address book contains a plurality of contactentries suitable for storing contact information, for the communicationsdevice's subscriber as well for his or her contacts such as friends,family, or acquaintances. As an example, FIG. 2 is an illustration of anexemplary electronic address book 200 having a plurality of contactentries 210, operable on communications device 100 of FIG. 1. Among theplurality of entries 210, address book 200 has a contact entry 220 forthe subscriber of the device, marked with an asterisk, and a contactentry 230 for the subscriber's spouse.

Each contact entry includes identifiers associated with thecorresponding contact. Some of the identifiers are contact identityidentifiers such as a name, while other identifiers are contactcommunication identifiers such as a phone number, an e-mail address, ora personal identification number (PIN) associated with the contact. Asan example, FIG. 3 is a detailed illustration of contact entry 220 fromFIG. 2. Contact entry 220 contains contact information corresponding tothe subscriber of the communications device 100 of FIG. 1. Specifically,entry 220 contains a contact identity identifier 305 showing thesubscriber's name, and contact communication identifiers 310, 320, 330,340, and 350. Contact communication identifier 310 is the address of anE-mail account shared between the device's subscriber and his spouse.Contact communication identifier 320 is the address of an E-mail accountthat belongs to the device's subscriber. Contact communicationidentifier 330 is the home phone number of the device's subscriber andhis spouse. Contact communication identifier 340 is the mobile phonenumber of the device's subscriber. Contact communication identifier 350is a PIN associated with the device's subscriber.

As another example, FIG. 4 is a detailed illustration of contact entry230 from FIG. 2. Contact entry 230 contains contact informationcorresponding to the spouse of the subscriber of communications device100 of FIG. 1. Specifically contact entry 230 contains a contactidentity identifier 405 showing the subscriber's spouse's name, andcontact communication identifiers 410, 430, 440, and 450. Contactcommunication identifier 410 is the address of an E-mail account sharedbetween the device's subscriber and his spouse. Contact communicationidentifier 430 is the home phone number of the device subscriber'sspouse and the device subscriber's. Contact communication identifier 440is the device subscriber's spouse's mobile phone number. Contactcommunication identifier 450 is a PIN associated with the devicesubscriber's spouse.

A communications device has one or more subscriber identifiersassociated with it. In some implementations, the subscriber identifieris a phone number, an e-mail address, or a PIN. A phone number can bestored on a subscriber identity module (SIM) or on other means on thecommunications device, such as non-volatile random access memory(NVRAM). As an example, FIG. 5A is an illustration of an exemplary phoneapp (application) screen 500 displayable on the communications device100 of FIG. 1. Screen 500 includes field 510 displaying telephone number520 associated with communications device 100. As another example, FIG.5B is an illustration of an exemplary Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)information screen 550 displayable on the communications device 100 ofFIG. 1. Information screen 550 contains field 560 displaying telephonenumber 580 associated with communications device 100 and stored on a SIMassociated with device 100.

In an exemplary implementation, a subscriber identifier associated witha communications device is an e-mail address. As an example, FIG. 6 isan illustration of an exemplary service book screen 600 showing thevarious communications services supported by the communications device100 of FIG. 1. Screen 600 contains a field 610 displaying e-mail address620 provisioned for use by the subscriber of communications device 100.

In another exemplary implementation, a subscriber identifier associatedwith a communications device is a personal identification number (PIN).In some implementations, the PIN is stored in NVRAM or on othernon-volatile means on communications device 100. As an example, FIG. 7is an illustration of a personal identification number (PIN) informationscreen 700 displayable on the communications device 100 of FIG. 1.Screen 700 contains field 710 displaying PIN 720 associated with device100.

When an incoming communication such as a voice call, or an e-mailmessage, arrives at a communications device, the incoming communicationincludes a predetermined communication identifier, such as a phonenumber or an e-mail address. Upon receiving the incoming communication,an identification module 104 in FIG. 23 associated with thecommunications device identifies the contact entry associated with theincoming communication as will be described below.

FIG. 8 is a high-level flow chart of a method 800 for identifying acontact entry associated with an incoming communication. Method 800starts with block 810 at which an incoming communication is received ata communications device such as communications device 100. At block 820a contact entry associated with the initiator of the incomingcommunication is identified. At block 830 a message is displayedcontaining the contact identity identifier of the contact entrydetermined in block 820.

As an example of an incoming communication received in block 810, FIG.11 is an illustration of an incoming phone call from the home phone 1110of the subscriber of the communications device 100 to the communicationsdevice 100. As another example of an incoming communication received inblock 810, FIG. 16 is an illustration of an incoming e-mail message 1600from an e-mail address 1610 shared between communications device 100'ssubscriber whose contact entry is 220 in FIG. 3 and the communicationsdevice 100 subscriber's spouse whose contact entry is 230 in FIG. 4, themessage arriving at the communications device 100.

In block 830, the contact's identity is announced, for example bydisplaying the contact's identity identifier on a display 110 associatedwith communications device 100. In some implementations, displaying thecontact's identity identifier is carried out by a displaying module 105in FIG. 23. As an example of the message displayed in block 830, FIG. 12is an illustration of an exemplary caller identification screen 1200that is displayed when the incoming phone call 1100 of FIG. 11 arrivesat communications device 100. Contact identity identifier 1210 isdisplayed to show the contact associated with the incoming phone call.As another example of the message displayed in block 830, FIG. 17 is anillustration of an exemplary e-mail message list screen 1700 that isdisplayed when the e-mail message of FIG. 16 arrives at thecommunications device 100. Message list screen 1700 comprises aplurality of message list entries each indicating a sender of a messageand a subject line associated with the message. E-mail message 1600 fromFIG. 16 is shown in entry 1710 wherein the contact identity identifier1720 of the subscriber's spouse is displayed. Similarly, FIG. 18 is anillustration of an exemplary e-mail message preview screen 1800 that canbe displayed when the e-mail message of FIG. 16 is opened for preview atthe communications device. Preview screen 1800 includes contact identifyidentifier 1810 indicating that the sender of the e-mail message 1600 isthe device subscriber's spouse.

When an outgoing communication is initiated from the communicationsdevice, the outgoing communication specifies a predeterminedcommunication identifier such as a phone number or an e-mail address asthe destination of the outgoing communication, in which case, theidentification module 104 in FIG. 23 identifies the contact entry forthe contact receiving the outgoing communication.

FIG. 9 is a high-level flow chart of a method 900 for identifying acontact entry associated with an outgoing communication. Method 900starts with block 910 at which an outgoing communication is composed ata communications device such as communications device 100. At block 920a contact entry associated with the recipient of the outgoingcommunication is identified in a manner that will be outlined below. Atblock 930 a message is displayed containing the contact identityidentifier of the contact entry determined in block 920.

As an example of an outgoing communication composed in block 910, FIG.13 is an illustration of an outgoing phone call 1300 to the home phone1310 of the subscriber of the communications device 100 being dialed atcommunications device 100. FIG. 14 is an illustration of thesubscriber's home phone number 1410 being dialed using the exemplaryphone application screen of FIG. 5A.

As another example of an outgoing communication composed in block 910,FIG. 19 is an illustration of an exemplary outgoing e-mail message 1900originating from communications device 100 to e-mail address 1910 whichis shared between the communications device's subscriber whose contactentry 220 is in FIG. 3 and the communications device subscriber's spousewhose contact entry 230 is in FIG. 4. Reference is now made to FIG. 20which is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail application menu 2000including an e-mail compose menu item 2010, menu 2000 being displayableon communications device 100. The composition of outgoing e-mail message1900 can be initiated by activating e-mail compose menu item 2010.

Reference is now made to FIG. 21 which is an illustration of anexemplary e-mail compose screen 2100 that can be activated via menu item2010. E-mail compose screen 2100 includes an e-mail recipient addressfield 2110. As can be seen e-mail address 2120 which is shared betweenthe communications device subscriber and the communications devicesubscriber's spouse, is entered as the destination of the e-mail messagebeing composed.

At block 930, the identity of the contact that is the recipient of thecommunication composed in block 910 is announced. In someimplementations, announcing the identity of the contact is carried outby a displaying module 105 in FIG. 23. The displaying module displays amessage containing the contact's identity identifier on a displayassociated with the communications device, such as display 110. As anexample of the message displayed in block 930, FIG. 15 is anillustration of an exemplary call recipient identification screen 1500that is displayed at communications device 100 when the outgoing call ofFIG. 13 is placed from communications device 100, in accordance with animplementation of the present disclosure. Contact identity identifier1510 is displayed on display 110 to show that the contact associatedwith the outgoing phone call is the device subscriber's spouse.

As another example of the message displayed in block 930, FIG. 22 is anillustration of the e-mail compose screen 2100 of FIG. 21 wherein thee-mail address entered 2120 has been replaced with contact identifyidentifier 2210 name, in accordance an implementation of the presentdisclosure.

Reference is now made to FIG. 10 which is a detailed flow chart of amethod 1000 of blocks 820 and 920 for identifying a contact entryassociated with a communication in accordance with an implementation ofthe present disclosure. Consider, for example a communication identifiedby a predetermined communication identifier. Examples of suchcommunication are: the incoming call 1100 of FIG. 11 identified bypredetermined communication identifier 1110 which is the home phonenumber of both the device's subscriber and his spouse, the outgoing call1300 of FIG. 13 identified by predetermined communication identifier1310 which is also the home phone number of both the device's subscriberand his spouse, the incoming e-mail message 1600 of FIG. 16 identifiedby predetermined communication identifier 1610 which is an e-mailaddress shared between the device's subscriber and his spouse, or theoutgoing e-mail message 1900 identified by predetermined communicationidentifier 1910 which is also an e-mail address shared between thedevice's subscriber and his spouse.

At block 1010, the address book 200 of communications device 100 issearched. In some implementations, the search at block 1010 is performedby an identification module 104 in FIG. 23, or a search module (notshown). Contact communication identifiers in contact entries 210 ofaddress book 200 are compared with the predetermined communicationidentifier of the communication such as predetermined communicationidentifier 1110, 1310, 1610, or 1910.

At block 1020 a determination is made as to whether two contact entrieseach having a respective first contact communication identifier matchingthe predetermined communication identifier are present in the addressbook. In some implementations, the determination is made by anidentification module 104 in FIG. 23. For example, each of predeterminedcommunication identifier 1110 of phone call 1100 of FIG. 11 andpredetermined communication identifier 1310 of phone call 1300 of FIG.13 matches the contact communication identifier 330 in contact entry 220and contact communication identifier 430 in contact entry 230. Asanother example, each of predetermined communication identifier 1610 ofe-mail message 1600 of FIG. 16 and predetermined communicationidentifier 1910 of e-mail message 1900 of FIG. 19, matches contactcommunication identifier 310 in contact entry 220 and contactcommunication identifier 410 in contact entry 230. In any of theprevious cases method 1000 continues at block 1030. If there is no matchwith two contact entries, method 1000 terminates. An alternate methodwhereby only one contact entry's contact communication identifier iscompared with the communication identifier is run (not shown). If thereis a match then the contact entry is identified as associated with thecommunication as is conventionally done.

At block 1030 a second contact communication identifier in each of thetwo contact entries is compared with the subscriber identifierassociated with device 100. Examples of a second contact communicationidentifier are: e-mail address 320, mobile phone number 340, or PIN 350in contact entry 220; and mobile phone number 440, or PIN 450 in contactentry 230. These contact communication identifiers are compared withsubscriber identifiers of the same type. As an example contactcommunication identifiers which are phone numbers such as 340 and 440,are compared with phone number 520 shown in SIM info screen 550 orcompared with phone number 580 in phone app screen 500. As anotherexample contact communication identifiers which are e-mail addressessuch as 320 in contact entry 220 are compared with e-mail address 620 inservice book info screen 600. As yet another example, contactcommunication identifiers which are personal identification numbers(PINs) such as 350 in contact entry 220 or 450 in contact entry 230, arecompared with the PIN 720 in PIN field 710 in PIN info screen 700.

At block 1040 a determination is made as to whether a second contactcommunication identifier in one of the two contact entries matches asubscriber identifier. In some implementations the determination ataction 1040 is made by an identification module 104 in FIG. 23. If thereis no match then method 1000 terminates. When method 1000 terminatesbecause of no match between the second contact communication identifierin one of the two contact entries and the subscriber identifier, thefirst contact entry having a contact communication identifier matchingthe predetermined communication identifier is identified as associatedwith the communication as is conventionally done. Alternatively, othermethods such as most recently used techniques can be used to decidewhich of the two contacts is to be identified as associated with thecommunication. If there is a match, method 1000 proceeds to block 1050.

At block 1050, the contact entry which does not have a contactcommunication identifier matching a subscriber identifier, is identifiedas the contact entry associated with the communication. In someimplementations, the identification of contact entry that does not havea contact communication identifier matching a subscriber identifier asthe contact entry associated with the communication is carried out by anidentification module 104 in FIG. 23.

As an example, at block 1040 it can be determined that contact entry 220has contact communication identifier 320 which matches subscriberidentifier 620, and therefore at block 1050 contact 230 can beidentified as the contact entry associated with the communication.

As another example, at block 1040 it can be determined that contactentry 220 has contact communication identifier 340 which matchessubscriber identifier 520 or subscriber identifier 580, and therefore atblock 1050 contact 230 can be identified as the contact entry associatedwith the communication.

As yet another example, at block 1040 it can be determined that contactentry has contact communication identifier 350 which matches subscriberidentifier 720, and therefore at block 1050 contact 230 can beidentified as the contact entry associated with the communication.

Whereas conventionally the first contact entry having a contactcommunication identifier matching the predetermined communicationidentifier is identified as the initiator or recipient of thecommunication having the predetermined identifier, the method describedherein has the advantage of excluding the subscriber of the mobilecommunications device as the initiator or recipient of thatcommunication. As an example, when the subscriber's spouse calls thesubscriber, the spouse's name appear in the caller ID screen, even ifthe contact entry for the subscriber alphabetically precedes the contactentry for the subscriber's spouse, in the address book.

While the blocks comprising the methods are shown as occurring in aparticular order, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat many of the blocks are interchangeable and can occur in differentorders than that shown without materially affecting the end results ofthe methods.

When two contact entries contain contact communication identifiers whicheach match a predetermined communication identifier, the contact entryassociated with the communication identifier is identified by comparinganother communication identifier in each of the two contacts with thesubscriber identifier of the communications device. If a match occurswith one of the two contacts, then the other is identified as thecontact associated with the communication.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustration of the components of thecommunications device 100. Communications device 100 comprises aprocessor 120, and a memory 101 connected to processor 120.

Memory 101 stores software modules that, when executed by processor 120,can implement the methods described herein. As an example,identification module 104 implements method 1000 of FIG. 10. As anotherexample, displaying module 105 in FIG. 23 implements blocks 830 and 930of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, respectively.

Memory 101 stores other software modules, such as phone application 102for making and receiving phone calls, and e-mail application 103 forsending and receiving e-mail messages.

Memory 101 also stores address book 200 described hereinabove. Memory101 can also contain service books 106 which can contain service booksfor the various communications services supported by the communicationsdevice 100. The service books serve as subscriber identifiers asdescribed hereinabove.

Memory 101 comprises non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) forstoring personal identification number (PIN) and/or a phone numberassociated with device 100, both serving as subscriber identifiers asdescribed hereinabove.

Communications device 100 comprises a subscriber identify module (SIM)160 that can contain a phone number associated with device 100 andserving as a subscriber identifier as described hereinabove.

Communications device 100 comprises display 110 as describedhereinabove.

Communications device 100 comprises a communications interface 150including a controller 152 and a radio 154. Communications interface 150is coupled to an antenna 160. Communications interface 150 is alsocoupled with processor 120. Communications interface enables device 100to carry out voice and data communications such as voice calls, e-mail,short messaging system (SMS), instant messaging, and the like.

Communications device 100 comprises a battery 190 for powering upprocessor 120, memory 101, display 110, communications interface 150,and other elements of the device.

The implementations of the present disclosure described above areintended to be examples only. Those of skill in the art can effectalterations, modifications and variations to the particularimplementations without departing from the intended scope of the presentdisclosure. In particular, selected features from one or more of theabove-described implementations can be combined to create alternativeimplementations not explicitly described, features suitable for suchcombinations being readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. Thesubject matter described herein in the recited claims intends to coverand embrace all suitable changes in technology.

1. A method for identifying a contact entry associated with anelectronic communication, the method comprising: searching an addressbook for first and second contact entries, the address book having atleast two contact entries, each contact entry storing a contact nameidentifier and one or more contact communication identifiers, each ofthe first and second contact entries having a contact communicationidentifier matching a communication identifier associated with anelectronic communication and at least one of the first and secondcontact entries having at least two contact communication identifiers;in response to finding the first and second contact entries, comparingan additional contact communication identifier in one or both of thefirst and second contact entries with a subscriber identifier associatedwith a communications device; in response to a match of the additionalcontact communication identifier in one of the first and second contactentries to the subscriber identifier, identifying the non-matchingcontact entry as the contact entry associated with the electroniccommunication; and announcing the contact entry associated with theelectronic communication.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein theelectronic communication further comprises an incoming communication,and wherein the contact entry associated with the electroniccommunication identifies an initiator of the incoming communication. 3.The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic communication furthercomprises an outgoing communication, and wherein the contact entryassociated with the electronic communication identifies a recipient ofthe outgoing communication.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein both thesubscriber identifier and the additional contact communicationidentifier further comprise telephone numbers.
 5. The method of claim 1wherein both the subscriber identifier and the additional contactcommunication identifier further comprise personal identificationnumbers.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein both the subscriber identifierand the additional contact communication identifier further comprisee-mail addresses.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the communicationidentifier associated with the electronic communication furthercomprises a telephone number.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein thecommunication identifier associated with the electronic communicationfurther comprises an electronic mail address.
 9. The method of claim 1wherein announcing the contact entry associated with the electroniccommunication comprises displaying the contact name identifier stored inthe second contact entry.
 10. A computer program product comprising anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readableinstructions which, when executed, direct a communications device to:search an address book for first and second contact entries, the addressbook having at least two contact entries, each contact entry storing acontact name identifier and one or more contact communicationidentifiers, each of the first and second contact entries having acontact communication identifier matching a communication identifierassociated with an electronic communication and at least one of thefirst and second contact entries having at least two contactcommunication identifiers; in response to finding the first and secondcontact entries, compare an additional contact communication identifierin one or both of the first and second contact entries with a subscriberidentifier associated with the communications device; in response to amatch of the additional contact communication identifier in one of thefirst and second contact entries to the subscriber identifier, identifythe non-matching contact entry as the contact entry associated with theelectronic communication; and announce the contact entry associated withthe electronic communication.
 11. The computer program product of claim10 wherein the communication identifier associated with the electroniccommunication further comprises a telephone number.
 12. The computerprogram product of claim 10 wherein the communication identifierassociated with the electronic communication further comprises anelectronic mail address.
 13. The computer program product of claim 10wherein the instructions to direct the communications device to announcethe contact entry associated with the electronic communication furtherdirect the communications device to display the contact name identifierstored in the second contact entry.
 14. An electronic communicationsdevice, comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor;and computer-readable instructions, stored in the memory and executableon the processor, for an identification software module, theidentification module operable for: searching an address book for firstand second contact entries, the address book having at least two contactentries, each contact entry storing a contact name identifier and one ormore contact communication identifiers, each of the first and secondcontact entries having a contact communication identifier matching acommunication identifier associated with an electronic communication andat least one of the first and second contact entries having at least twocontact communication identifiers; in response to finding the first andsecond contact entries, comparing an additional contact communicationidentifier in one or both of the first and second contact entries with asubscriber identifier associated with the electronic communicationsdevice; in response to a match of the additional contact communicationidentifier in one of the first and second contact entries to thesubscriber identifier, identifying the non-matching contact entry as thecontact entry associated with the electronic communication; andannouncing the contact entry associated with the electroniccommunication.
 15. The electronic communications device of claim 14wherein the electronic communication further comprises an incomingcommunication, and wherein the contact entry associated with theelectronic communication identifies an initiator of the incomingcommunication.
 16. The electronic communications device of claim 14wherein the electronic communication further comprises an outgoingcommunication, and wherein the contact associated with the electroniccommunication identifies a recipient of the outgoing communication. 17.The electronic communications device of claim 14 wherein both thesubscriber identifier and the additional contact communicationidentifier further comprise telephone numbers.
 18. The electroniccommunications device of claim 14 wherein both the subscriber identifierand the additional contact communication identifier further comprisepersonal identification numbers.
 19. The electronic communicationsdevice of claim 14 wherein both the subscriber identifier and theadditional contact communication identifier further comprise e-mailaddresses.
 20. The electronic communications device of claim 14 whereinthe communication identifier associated with the electroniccommunication further comprises a telephone number.